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Bebop Spoken There

Sullivan Fortner: ''I always judge it by the bass player: If the bass player is happy, it's going to be a good night". (DownBeat, February 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17805 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 126 of them this year alone and, so far, 51 this month (Feb.16).

From This Moment On ...

February 2025

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 24: Michael Young Trio @ The Engine Room, Sunderland. 6:30pm. Free.

Tue 25: ?

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Jamie McCredie @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free. THIS WEEK ONLY JAMES BIRKETT (guitar)!
Fri 28: Luis Verde Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Knats @ Lubber Fiend, Newcastle. 7:30pm. £11.50. (inc bf.). Album launch gig. Support act TBC.
Fri 28: Black is the Color of My Voice @ The Gala, Durham. 7:30pm. Apphia Campbell’s one-woman show inspired by the life of Nina Simone, performed by Florence Odumosu.
Fri 28: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival: Musicians Unlimited @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 8:00pm. £10.00. (Weekend ticket £20.00., available on the door). Day 1/3. Musicians Unlimited in concert.
Fri 28: Redwell @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

MARCH 2025

Sat 01: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £15.00. Day 2/3.
Sat 01: TJ Johnson Band @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00.
Sat 01: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £25.00. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. Get your funk on! Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 01: Shunyata Improvisation Group @ The Watch House, Cullercoats. 2:00-3:30pm. Free.
Sat 01: Ray Stubbs R&B All Stars @ Billy Bootleggers. Ouseburn, Newcastle. 4:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Lapwing Jazz Trio @ Three Sheets to the Wind, Alnwick. 5:15pm or 5:45pm (times tbc). Part of the Alnwick Story Festival's music fringe programme: Free.
Sat 01: Struggle Buggy @ The Peacock, Sunderland. 6:00pm. Blues band.
Sat 01: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 01: Joseph O’Brien: The Ultimate Tribute to Frank Sinatra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm. O’Brien & seven piece band (inc. Wendy Kirkland, Jim Corry & Pat Sprakes).
Sat 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.
Sat 01: Jack & Jay’s Vintage Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 02: Great North Big Band Jazz Festival @ Park View Community Centre, Chester-le-Street. 11:00am. £10.00. Day 3/3.
Sun 02: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 02: Nauta @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 2:00pm. £10.00.
Sun 02: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free (donations).
Sun 02: Side Café Orkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Derwentwater Road, Gateshead. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 02: Milne Glendinning Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 6:30pm.
Sun 02: Bella by Barlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 02: Ali Watson Quartet @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Monday, December 07, 2009

Monday Night @ The Cherry Tree Restaurant, Jesmond

Stuart Collingwood (pno), Neil Harland (bs), Paul Smith (dms), Mo Scott (vcl).
Whilst I contemplated the appetising choice of starters from the Table D'Hote Xmas menu, Stu Collingwood had no such reservations - for his starter he went straight into "Sleigh Ride". It was bright and crisp and even - rather like what I imagine the Mustard Caesar Salad with Crisp Pancetta, Spring Onions and Soft Boiled Egg would be.
I don't know as, whilst I was deliberating between the Smoked Scottish Salmon with Shallots, Sour Cream & Lemon Rye Bread or the Prawn & Crayfish Cocktail with Marie Rose Sauce and Lemon, Mo Scott stepped up and 'Took a Chance On Love" followed by "Blue Skies" and "Embraceable You".
Even though, at this stage she was in 'let's not drown out the diners' mode the voice still came across with that distinctive edge that tells you there is a blues mama inside that petite frame just crying to be set free - she would be... later.
I went for the Prawn & Crayfish Cocktail just as Mo "Got the World on a String" - both were excellent - the Marie Rose Sauce giving the Prawn & Crayfish the kind of backing Mo was getting from Stu and the boys.
"Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You" told anyone who didn't know that this was Mo's 'Main Course'.
I don't mean the song, I mean the idiom. In a previous life Mo must have been born in Texas raised in Tennessee because you don't sing like that if you were born in say Surbiton and raised in Borehamwood.
Talking main courses - my Rib Eye Steak with Garden Leaves, French Fries & Bearnaise Sauce went down a treat accompanied by Mo's rousing version of "Squeeze Me" and her plaintive wailing on "Don't Explain".
The band, the chef and Mo were moving into top gear.
Mulled Fruits with Gingerbread Ice Cream combined with the final blast on "Route 66" to make this a rather special evening. The crowded room demanded more and they got more - blues that is.
I may have concentrated on Mo and food - pig that I am - but Stuart Collingwood was also on form even although, by his standards, he was relatively restrained. When he did say 'to hell with the wallpaper music' you knew you were hearing something. Neil, the most laid back guy in the business couldn't hit a bum note if he was paid to, and Paul, driving without overpowering, quietly swung throughout.
Monday nights here really are the business.
Next week it is Jim Birkett trio with Sue Ferris on saxes. Now for starters, a bossa novarish "Wave" accompanied by a souffle...
Lance.

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